Oat scores?!

[optohopeful2224]

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Is it possible to get accepted with a 280 AA and 280 TS? I am not a good standardized test taker. I have a high gpa and several years experience in the Optometry field. I am nervous to re-take the exam with the possibility of getting lower. Has anyone been accepted with less than 290 AA or 290 TS?

 

[Shnurek]

Yes, to IAUPR. You will be taking tests the rest of your life if you go into optometry. If you are having problems with the OAT then you are going to have a lot of problems with all three Board Exams.

For example Part 1 of the Boards: "The ABS examination will be four sessions in length, each session 3½ hours long containing 125 items, for a total of 500 items." http://www.optometry.org/part_abs.cfm

That's a 14 hour test awaiting all of us.

Think about it, if you do not succeed then you will be like the other students all selling their equipment a couple of months into the first semester while being in debt.

 

[Xtermination]

Is it possible to get accepted with a 280 AA and 280 TS? I am not a good standardized test taker. I have a high gpa and several years experience in the Optometry field. I am nervous to re-take the exam with the possibility of getting lower. Has anyone been accepted with less than 290 AA or 290 TS?

Don't be discouraged by your OAT scores. There are lots of students who got into optometry school with that kind of OAT scores. You need to have good GPA, and shadow some optometrists. Yes, the standardized exams are hard, but that doesn't necessarily mean that you will never be better at taking other standardized tests. Once you improve your test taking skills and tricks - you will get better scores, and do relatively better.

 

[optohopeful2224]

Thank you! I agree, that is not a good predictor of my ability to succeed in Optometry School. I have 4 years experience working as an Optometric Tech. I work for 2 Optometrists. I have a 3.85 gpa and several extracurricular activities. I am very motivated and did very well during college. I am very confident I could handle the rigorous demands of Optometry School given the opportunity! I am a little nervous because I would have to wait to re-take the OAT in February and that's late (due to the fact I'm not eligible yet). I don't want to wait another year!!

 

[optoapp2012]

Thank you! I agree, that is not a good predictor of my ability to succeed in Optometry School. I have 4 years experience working as an Optometric Tech. I work for 2 Optometrists. I have a 3.85 gpa and several extracurricular activities. I am very motivated and did very well during college. I am very confident I could handle the rigorous demands of Optometry School given the opportunity! I am a little nervous because I would have to wait to re-take the OAT in February and that's late (due to the fact I'm not eligible yet). I don't want to wait another year!!

I would prep really hard for that exam in February (like start now and spend several hours a day covering a given section of the test). I agree with Shnurek - while the OAT doesn't predict your hands-on skills as an optometrist, good test taking skills are key to pass the boards and become a certified optometrist. One thing that is different about the OAT versus the SAT or ACT types of standardized tests is that you do have a significant chunk of the test that is memory recall - so they are facts that you need to memorize (like info about glycolysis). Lots of other standardized tests are aptitude tests that you can't study for and test-taking skills are incredibly important. Have you taken a class for the OAT? That might help give you some pointers on how to perform better in each section. If you're really committed to the field and the OAT is your one obstacle for admission, then I think it's worth investing in some test-taking help. Also look at which sections were your strongest and weakest. The math and reading ones are strictly aptitude-based. The natural science one is recalling facts and a few equations. The physics one is memorizing equations and using those, plus a few facts. Figure out if it's memorization that is your issue, then just drill yourself with flashcards (EVERY DAY!). If it's using information in equations, do practice problems EVERY DAY. (See the pattern? 🙂). When I was studying for the OAT, I spent anywhere from 2-7 hours every day studying for over a month - that raised my score a LOT from the practice tests I took.

 

[optohopeful2224]

ok well thank you so much for the advice I appreciate it! 🙂

 

[Optometry1988]

Is it possible to get accepted with a 280 AA and 280 TS? I am not a good standardized test taker. I have a high gpa and several years experience in the Optometry field. I am nervous to re-take the exam with the possibility of getting lower. Has anyone been accepted with less than 290 AA or 290 TS?

I had a similar situation. I got really nervous and panicked...most of my scores were about 300 but my physics was a wretched 260 so it brought me down to a ts 290. I was already planning to retake in feb but this week I got interview invites from Boston and Oregon. I had good grades (3.3gpa) but my essays were amazing along with my community service. I can also kill interviews. So yes, it can be done.